Verbena plant named ‘DVERVAVL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Verbena cultivar named ‘DVERVAVL’ is disclosed, characterized by early flowering, an abundance of magenta flowers, semi-trailing habit and tolerance to powdery mildew. The new variety is a Verbena, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Verbena hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘DVERVAVL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Verbena cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Verbenavarieties for ornamental purposes. The cross resulting in this newvariety was made during January of 2015.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, propriety variety referred to asVerbena ‘VE-14-7534’. The pollen parent is the, unpatented, proprietyvariety referred to as Verbena ‘VE-15-8069’. The new variety wasdiscovered in September of 2015 by the inventor in a group of seedlingsresulting from the crossing, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. Date of first sale was Jun. 3, 2018, in Israel. This sale wasmade directly by the inventor or one who obtained the claimed inventiondirectly or indirectly from the inventor. This sale and all publicdisclosures made between Jun. 3, 2018, and the filing of thisapplication fall within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DVERVAVL’ first by vegetativeterminal cuttings was first performed during September of 2015, at agreenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation byvegetative cuttings has shown that the unique features of this cultivarare stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DVERVAVL’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DVERVAVL’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DVERVAVL’ as a new and distinct Verbenacultivar:

-   -   1. Flowers early.    -   2. Semi-trailing habit.    -   3. Tolerant to powdery mildew.    -   4. Highly floriferous plants.    -   5. Bright magenta flower color.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DVERVAVL’ are similar to plants of the seedparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘DVERVAVL’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. New variety is more vigorous than the seed parent, which has        weaker growing habit.    -   2. The flower color of the new variety is darker than the        parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DVERVAVL’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘DVERVAVL’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has a lighter flower color than the parent.    -   2. The new variety is more tolerant to powdery mildew than the        parent.    -   3. The new variety has a semi-trailing habit, while the parent        is compact and mounding.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DVERVAVL’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial variety Verbena ‘Estrella Up Blueberry’. These varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DVERVAVL’differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a darker flower color than this        comparator.    -   2. The new variety is more tolerant to powdery mildew than this        comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DVERVAVL’ can also be compared to theunpatented commercial variety Verbena ‘EnduraScape Blue’. Thesevarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,‘DVERVAVL’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a darker flower color than this        comparator.    -   2. The new variety has a semi-trailing habit, while this        comparator has a trailing habit.    -   3. The new variety has larger flowers than this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DVERVAVL’ grown in in a greenhouse, in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel, photographed in February.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical inflorescence of ‘DVERVAVL’.Age of the plant photographed is approximately 20 weeks from a rootedcutting in a 20 cm pot.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DVERVAVL’ plants grown in a nursery in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were takenduring March of 2019. The plants were approximately 80 days from arooted cutting in a 12 cm pot. The growing temperature ranged from 18°C. to 27° C. during the days, 10° C. to 15° C. during the nights.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrid ‘DVERVAVL’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 7 to 9 days at optimal temperature of    approximately 23° C.-   Root description: Fibrous. Brown, not accurately measured with a    color chart.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Semi-trailing.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm.-   Height: 12 cm.-   Plant spread: 35 cm.-   Growth rate: Fast.-   Branching characteristics: Freely branching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: 23 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.4 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 8.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Cylindrical.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Flexible.-   Internode length: 2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 20 per branch.        -   Average length.—4 cm.        -   Average width.—2.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Triangular.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Pubescent.        -   Pubescence.—Strigose.        -   Aspect.—45 degrees.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137C. Young            foliage under side: RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage upper            side: RHS Green N137A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green            137D.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Green 139C. Venation color under side: RHS Green 139D.        -   Petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS Green            137A. Texture: Pubescent.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring to Autumn.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 45 to 50 days.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Terminal cluster.-   Rate of flower opening: 4 to 6 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: 5 to 8 days.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Quinquangular.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Green 139D.-   Corolla:    -   -   Flower.—Depth: 1 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Petals/lobes:            Number: 5. Length: 1 cm. Width: 1 cm. Shape: Obcordate.            Aspect: Upright. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple 72A.            Lower surface: RHS Red-Purple 76A. Fully opened: Upper            surface: RHS Purple N78A. Lower surface: RHS Violet 85C.            Throat: Color: RHS White NN155A. Texture: Smooth. Tube            color: RHS White NN155A.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Tubular.        -   Length.—1.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Sepal shape.—Five sepals whose margins are            fused-quinquangular.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture.—Pubescent.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Lower            surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144B.-   Pedicels: None.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number (per flower).—4.        -   Filament length.—0.2 cm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Conical. Length: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS            Yellow-Green 154B.-   Pollen: None.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.        -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Styles.—Length: 0.8 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Green-Yellow 1C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Ovoid. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Scant seeds. Seeds colored near Grey-Brown 199A,    near 1 mm long and 0.3 in diameter.-   Disease/pest resistance: Tolerant to powdery mildew (Erysiphe    cichoracearum). Neither resistance nor susceptibility to other    diseases and pests of Verbena observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    −1° C. to 32° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plantnamed ‘DVERVAVL’ as herein illustrated and described.